A new year of returns: Five European stocks that shine in January

European equity markets have opened 2026 with strong momentum, pushing several major indices to record highs, including Germany’s flagship benchmark.

Seasonal patterns suggest January is usually a positive, though not spectacular, month for European stocks.

Yet in recent years, the opening month of the year has delivered some unusually powerful rallies, especially for a handful of European names.

Over the past 20 years, the Euro STOXX 50 has risen an average of 0.26% in January, finishing the month higher 56% of the time, according to TradingView data.

National indices show similar…